Universal Pictures may have found a familiar filmmaker to direct the next Jurassic World movie. J.A. Bayona is reportedly in talks to return to the franchise after directing 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
According to reporting from Jeff Sneider via The InSneider, Universal previously considered Twisters director Lee Isaac Chung before turning to Bayona. The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit also reported the same, claiming that the Fallen Kingdom director is reportedly “at the top of the list” for Universal.
True news: J.A. Bayona may be returning to the JURASSIC WORLD franchise. The filmmaker, who directed Jurassic World: FALLEN KINGDOM in 2018, is at the top of the list of who Universal would like to direct the follow-up to Jurassic World: REBIRTH.
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) October 2, 2026
The search for a new director began after Gareth Edwards left the sequel to Jurassic World: Rebirth over creative differences. Universal confirmed that Edwards would not return for the next movie, which remains in development.
David Koepp, who wrote Jurassic World: Rebirth and the original Jurassic Park, has already written the script for a sequel. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali are expected to return, while Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall remain involved as producers.
The project would mark Bayona’s second time directing a movie in the franchise. Fallen Kingdom earned more than $1.3 billion worldwide after its 2018 release.
What did critics think of J.A. Bayona’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie?Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom received mixed reviews when it opened in theaters. The movie currently has a 47% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. By comparison, Jurassic World has a 72% score, while Jurassic World Dominion sits at 28%.
Bayona’s direction was one of the elements that received attention. The filmmaker brought a darker visual style to the franchise, particularly after the story moved from Isla Nublar to the Lockwood estate. The movie begins with the planned evacuation of dinosaurs from Isla Nublar before shifting to a storyline involving the auction of genetically modified dinosaurs. That change in setting and tone divided critics, even as the film continued the commercial success of the franchise.
The potential return would also reunite Bayona with a property he previously worked on nearly a decade ago. He directed Fallen Kingdom after Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World, giving the franchise a different visual approach while continuing its story.
The next movie remains in development, and Universal has not officially announced Bayona as its director. Production details and a final release date have also yet to be confirmed. The sequel is expected to continue the story established by Jurassic World: Rebirth, which earned $869 million worldwide.
Originally reported on SuperHeroHype.com.
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